Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect

In this episode, hosts, Kelly and Jessica start with a story about a stressful shopping experience, navigating online waiting lists, and the excitement of securing a hard-to-find item.

The conversation shifts to holiday shopping habits and strategies, with participants sharing their progress and challenges in finding gifts for family members. 

A major segment is devoted to discussing the Netflix documentary about Martha Stewart, touching on her career, personal life, and the impact of her imprisonment. The hosts share their thoughts on Martha's personality, her pioneering influence on homemaking and DIY culture, and her contributions as a female entrepreneur.

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? In this special episode of Chasing Brighter, we’re taking the stress out of gift-giving with unique, thoughtful ideas for everyone on your list. Whether you’re shopping for your partner, kids, teens, friends, or even treating yourself, we’ve got you covered!

✨ Ready to start shopping? Visit our blog for a full list of links to the 2024 gift ideas we mentioned on the show: 2024 Gift Ideas Blog Post.

Don’t miss out on the simple yet meaningful ways to show your love this holiday season. Press play and let us help you tick off that shopping list with ease!

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Happy Holidays! 🎅🎁

In this episode of Super Woman Diaries, hosts Kelly and Jessica delve into the complex journey of personal growth, with a particular focus on control and vulnerability. Jessica shares her struggles with control and trusting the process, humorously referencing the phrase "Jesus take the wheel" to emphasize her tendency to micromanage. Kelly discusses her ongoing battle with a scalp issue and how it has exacerbated her desire for control, recounting her experiences with wig shops and non-surgical hair replacements.

The conversation transitions to their concerns as parents, particularly around the pressures of supporting their children’s ambitions and education.  Both hosts talk about balancing how much to push their children vs. letting them find their own paths, sharing personal anecdotes about managing their children's education and extracurricular activities.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of teaching teens about safety, specifically highlighting the use of Narcan to prevent fatal opioid overdoses, and the importance of educating both themselves and their children about the current dangers associated with drug use.

Welcome back to Chasing Brighter! In today’s episode, we’re diving into a timely topic for the holiday season: setting financial boundaries. As we enter this busy season, it’s easy to feel the pressure to overspend on gifts, events, and travel, leaving us with financial stress that lingers into the new year. Join us as we share practical tips on how to align your holiday spending with your values, communicate financial boundaries with family, and create memorable experiences without breaking the bank.

What Are Financial Boundaries? -- Financial boundaries are limits we set to control spending and save according to our values. During the holidays, these boundaries can help us prioritize what truly matters and prevent us from getting swept up in the pressures of consumerism.

Why Financial Boundaries Matter -- Setting financial boundaries allows you to celebrate the season without the guilt, stress, or debt that can come from overspending. These boundaries keep you aligned with your goals and values while helping you enter the new year with peace of mind.

Previous Episodes on This Topic:

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In this episode of Super Woman Diaries, Kelly and Jessica dive into personal stories about health, vulnerability, and self-care. Kelly discusses her recent skin cancer surgery.  Jessica her experiences with weight loss injections and talks about the challenges of dietary habits and body image. They also share tips on hydration and electrolyte balance, touch on workout routines, and address the frustrations of car maintenance. The episode wraps up with a nod to generational differences in body positivity and practical advice for living a balanced life.

In this episode of Chasing Brighter, the hosts tackle the timely topic of setting healthy boundaries with family, particularly during the holiday season. They begin by discussing the importance of products like Warrior Strong Wellness for self-care and then transition into the main subject: navigating family dynamics. The hosts provide actionable tips for maintaining personal boundaries, handling difficult conversations with grace, and effectively communicating needs. They highlight three major challenges: dealing with family expectations, managing difficult conversations, and addressing the guilt that comes with saying no. The conversation includes personal anecdotes and strategies to encourage listeners to prioritize their mental health and well-being. The episode wraps up with a recap of the key takeaways and additional resources for further reading.

Resources:

Set Boundaries, Find Peace, A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself

Healthy Holiday Boundaries

Previous Episodes:

• Season 1, Episode 25: “Staying Healthy & Happy During the Holiday Series: Relationship Expert Orly Katz, MFT”

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• Instagram: @chasingbrighter

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• Audible: Get your next read and enjoy the convenience of audiobooks. Try Audible today!

In this episode, Jessica, shares personal anecdotes about scheduling blood work, nutrition, and fitness routines. She explains her approach to a balanced dietary regimen, focusing on protein, fiber, and probiotics, along with her efforts to maintain her fitness amidst various appointments and responsibilities. Discussions also touch on the ongoing struggle to keep up with exercise routines and the impact of missing workouts on mental health.

Kelly adds to the conversation by discussing her experiences with a nutrition class and the significance of continually refreshing knowledge and habits to stay motivated. She mentions an upcoming surgery that will affect her ability to exercise and considers alternative light activities like yin yoga and light walks to maintain movement.

Throughout the episode, there is a blend of health and fitness advice, personal stories, and practical tips on managing midlife challenges.

In this episode, hosts, Kelly and Jessica discuss the increased stress that comes with the holiday season and provides tips for managing it. They emphasize the importance of self-care and offer strategies such as delegating tasks, setting realistic expectations, prioritizing self-care, and limiting social media to help reduce stress.

The episode also features an interview with Angel Uribe, an alcohol moderation coach and author of the book "Beyond the Binge." Angel discusses the rise in alcohol consumption among women, especially during the holidays, and the concept of mindful drinking. She provides practical tips for managing alcohol intake and highlights the importance of understanding one's motivations behind drinking.

The hosts and Angel also talk about the benefits of journaling as a tool for mindfulness and self-reflection. Listeners are encouraged to check out Angel's mini-course on mindful drinking and to create a more balanced relationship with alcohol. The episode concludes with reminders to take care of oneself, delegate tasks, and practice mindful drinking during the holiday season. Connect with Angel: on IG: @mindfulmoderationcoach or on Facebook: mindfulmoderationwithAngel

Want to hear even more tips for a better holiday? Check out these episodes from Season 2: 

Our Ultimate Guide to Simplifying You Holiday Planning

Our Best Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining Tips

Building a Self-Care Routine

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• Instagram: @chasingbrighter

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Jess and Kelly share personal anecdotes and stories about their daily routines, including hair care, nail trends, and the significance of human connection. They humorously discuss a minor conflict involving a lost carnival toy, reflecting on parenting and the nature of children. The episode wraps up with an emphasis on building community, connection, and the ongoing journey of maintaining wellness and balance in midlife.

Products discussed in this episode: 

Bumble and Bumble Curl Reactivator

Miss Jessie's

40 Ounce Tumbler Handled Lid

Kelly and Jessica  explore historical health myths affecting women between the 1700s and early 1900s, such as the wandering womb theory, Victorian fainting spells, vinegar for slimming, and the myth that cold feet cause colds. Each myth is debunked or discussed in the context of historical practices and modern understanding. They wrap up by sharing literary recommendations that depict women's health issues through historical fiction. The episode emphasizes the importance of questioning outdated health advice and seeking expert guidance.

Our Book Recommendations in this episode:

• The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake

Related Research Articles:

• British Medical Journal on the History of Hysteria

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• Instagram: @chasingbrighter

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• Audible: Get your next read and enjoy the convenience of audiobooks. Try Audible today!